Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 27, 2012

To the editor:

March has been a month for tobacco awareness for our state and the rest of the nation.

Awareness days such as Texas Tobacco-Free Kids Day and National Kick Butts Day give positive and creative opportunities for children and adults to come together and pledge to stay off of or quit tobacco products.

Within the communities and the schools all receive education and reminders about why tobacco products are undesirable.

Too many children are picking up the habit of smoking or “dipping” (smokeless tobacco) at a young age.

Generally children are exposed to the influence of tobacco while in transition from elementary to middle school.

Through awareness events such as the ones mentioned, focus can be emphasized through the use of guest speakers knowledgeable on the subject.

The use of creative poster walls and sign up pledges saying “no” to tobacco are among many examples of how to carry out this type of awareness campaign.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and prevention) have also contributed this month in the campaign against tobacco use.

Thirty-second public service announcements have become the latest ads in giving living examples as to why not to smoke.

Real people give their own testimony as to how smoking and tobacco have changed their lives forever.

The truth is that we live in a world today that has amassed a lot of debt combined with preventable illness.

As a result it is getting much harder to support medical treatment for illness.

What this tells all of us, young and old, but more so the young, is that personal responsibility for one’s well being is of great importance.

At the Rio Grande Valley Council numerous resources and links are available to those in need of help and information.